James Wallace Ristvedt
James Wallace Ristvedt
James Wallace Ristvedt, son of Daphne and Leander Ristvedt passed away Monday, June 27, 2022, in Omaha, NE, at the age of 88. James was born in Highland Grove, MN in 1933, and grew up in Cyrus, MN. After high school graduation, his family moved to Renton, WA, where James worked for Boeing Aircraft as a riveter. He then enlisted in the Air Force, where he served his country as an
A & P mechanic at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. He met his beautiful bride, Betty Jean Knobloch in the choir loft at St. Paul Lutheran Church, San Antonio, and they married in November 1958.
Called into pastoral ministry with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, James studied at and graduated from Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL, in 1965 following his vicarage in Danbury, CT.
Although James and Betty’s hearts and minds were prepared for mission work in Africa, dangerous political unrest sent them instead to mission work in Picayune, MS. Here they supported the Black community. As an act of intimidation, the KKK burned a cross on the vacant lot next to their home.
The congregation James and Betty planted in Picayune, St. Paul Lutheran Church, soon outgrew the community center where they were worshiping so James helped design and build an octagonal church building which is still in use today. During his time in the Southern District of the LCMS, he was also involved in the “His Too” campaign, to develop ministry and materials for those with intellectual disabilities.
James and Betty then moved their family of four to serve Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Littlefield, TX from 1973-1978. Here James enrolled in Master and Doctoral studies in Marriage and Family Counseling at Texas Tech University, led worship services for congregations in the Lubbock and Panhandle region that didn’t have a pastor, and buried their stillborn infant daughter.
In 1978 James accepted a call to shepherd the flock of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wisner, NE, where he remained until 1986, also serving as circuit and pastoral counselor. After the last Ristvedt child graduated from Wisner-Pilger high school James and Betty moved to Denison, IA where James served as Senior Pastor of Zion Lutheran until the Lord led them to Kingsbury, TX where they cared for his father-in-law until his passing in 1992.
Rather than return to parish ministry, James traded the title Reverend for the title Chaplain when he completed his Clinical Pastoral Education training in San Antonio, TX in 1993. He was then hired by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a full-time chaplain at the George Beto Unit, a maximum-security prison in Tennessee Colony, TX where he served for eight years before retiring in 2001. Following retirement, he continued to lead worship in and around Palestine, TX where he and Betty made their home and served Bethlehem Lutheran Church until April 2022 when they moved to Omaha, NE.
Throughout James’ life, he had a passion for music which he instilled in his children. He was a self-taught guitarist and an experienced singer. His favorite musicians, The Sons of the Pioneers inspired him to teach his children to sing “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” an oft-requested song at social gatherings. He enjoyed Norweigan jokes, caring for dogs, planting gardens and fruit trees, tumbling rocks, camping, traveling the country, star-gazing, hunting, and fishing. He longed to get his pilot’s license and own his own plane. He was an avid learner, loved to debate, and was in the process of testing the known laws of physics with a specific interest in harnessing energy from sound waves.
James loved his wife and children and was a champion of the faith, always pointing them to trusting Almighty God, as their Savior, Teacher, Friend, Strength, Provider, Protector, and Healer.
James was faithfully devoted in marriage to Betty Jean for 63 years and was the father of Cynthia Vinovskis, Nathan , Jennifer Ristvedt-Hille, and Phillip . He was predeceased by twin brothers, both parents, sister Wanda , brother Roger and an infant daughter. He is survived by his wife and children, 11 grandchildren: Carrisa Birznieks , Micah Vinovskis, Noel Vinovskis, and Oliver Vinovskis; Naomi Ristvedt, Joel Ristvedt , Caleb Ristvedt, and Tabitha Ristvedt; Anika Hille, Aidan Hille; and Nolan Ristvedt. His two great-grandchildren are Finn and Gwendolyn Ristvedt .
Funeral arrangements are through Roeder Funeral Home. Viewing is from 9:30-10:30 am Tuesday, July 5 at Zion Lutheran Church in west Omaha with the funeral service following. Committal is at the Omaha National Cemetery at 2 pm and is about a 30-minute drive from the church. Instead of flowers, memorials will be directed by the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Wallace Ristvedt, please visit our flower store.
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